Senator Richard Gordon, chairman of the Committee on Justice and Human Rights, on Thursday underscored the need to protect the judiciary after 20 of its members were killed, most of them by riding-in-tandem gunmen, since the start of the year.
“It’s not about the number of police brutalities or crimes committed by them. They may have one or a thousand cases, the point to me is to protect the integrity of the institution,” said Gordon.
He said since society has allowed the police to have guns and power, in exchange they are expected to maintain peace and order, respect the citizens, and uphold the constitutional right of the people to be secure in their person and in their homes.
Gordon presided over a virtual hearing Thursday on several resolutions and delivered a privileged speech calling for an inquiry into the wanton killings of members of the legal community and citizens in the country.
Sen. Imee Marcos also raised the need for stronger relations between the Philippine National Police and the judiciary to ensure continuous prosecution of criminal cases.
Marcos authored Resolution No. 593, which directs an inquiry “on the alarming rate of crimes committed against judges, lawyers, and other officers of the Court.”
“What have the National Police Commission and the rest of the law enforcement community done to recommend effective crime management and crime prevention programs?” she asked.
“It seems we don’t feel their presence. Perhaps the Senate would also be informed,” Marcos added.
Sen. Joel Villanueva branded as alarming the spate of killings “of doctors, lawyers, journalists, and other members of the community” in the country.
He said this culture of impunity should be broken, especially among law enforcement agencies.
Villanueva clarified he was not pointing fingers to a particular government agency or even the police, but there should be accountability on the breakdown of law and order.
“How are we upholding the rule of law and judicial process in tracking and preventing these crimes? How do we make everyone accountable?” he asked.
